Cabinet construction



. Jan. 20,1042. H. E. BLOOD mL 2,210,110?

CABINET CONSTRUCTION daf [LA n l a v y 74 V .r |4- i s4 1 I .BY Z'drl F.' :flicker:

Jan. 20, 1942. H. E. BLOOD Erm.

CABNET coNsTRucTIoN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1938 Z n? 35ML Jan. 20, H. E. ELO-OD E'l'AL v CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed may 1938 s Sheetssheets INVENTOR Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES 2,270,407 CABINET coNs'raUc'noN Howard EuBlood, Detroit, and Earl F. Hubacker,

Highland Park, Mich., assignors to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corpora- Y tion of Illinois Application May 27,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cabinet construction. A principal object of this invention is to provide a new type of cabinet construction made of an inexpensive, light, insulating material, and which is particularly suitable for -use in refrigerator construction. y

A further object [of the invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet in which the insulated lood compartment will be separable from the reirigerating apparatus so as to allow the entire working parts of the refrigerator to be removed as aunt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator construction which comprises a framework for supporting the refrigerating ap-A paratus and a heat insulated compartment removably mounted upon the framework and constructed independently thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molded refrigerator cabinet, means for mounting the 'cabinet and the refrigerating apparatus and a method of molding the'cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet which will havea greater thermal emciency than refrigerator cabinets now in use and yet which isadapted to bemanniactured more cheaply than it is now possible to manufacture refrigerator cabinets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and less expensive method of constructing a heat insulated cabinet.

Other objects Aof the invention will be' apparent from a consideration of the following specidcation and the accompanying drawings, of

which there are three (3) sheets and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a front view of a. refrigerator cabinet embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view from front to rear of the cabinet shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents a section line 4-4 of Fig. 2; y

Fig. 5 represents a section taken along the line t-- of Fig. 2; Fig'. 6 represents a section taken along the li'ne 6-8' of Fig. 2; o y

Fig. `'l represents a section taken along1 tle linel--l of Fig. 2 with the insulation removed;

Fig. 8 represents anenlarged` side view of the evaporator support; Fig. 9 is a view of an insulating insert to ll the-@slot in back of the refrigerator through which the liquid and suction lines pass;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of'a refrigtaken along the '1038, serial No. 210,336

(Cl. (i2- 116) erator showing a modification of our invention; i

Fig. 13 is a third modification of our invention and represents a front view of a refrigerator with the door Yand machine compartment panel removed; and

Fig. 14. is a section taken of Fig. 13.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated a heat insulated refrigerator cabinet indicated generally at having a provision compartment closed by a door. The cabinet 20 comprises in general heat insulated walls arranged to provide a provision compartxnent 2t, an apparatus compartment 26 and a refrigerating system which includes ,an evapo- 20 rator 28 arranged within the provision compartment 24 and a condensing unit indicated generally at arranged within the apparatus compartment 26. f

More specifically the refrigerator construction illustrated in Figs. 2 to 9, inclusive, comprises a base unit indicated generally at 32 forming a suplport for the refrigerating apparatus and for the structure which provides the provision compartment 2t. The -base unit 32, as illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises a plurality of frame members 3d rigidly secured together so as to provide aboxlike frame 33, legs 36 which support the box-like frame abovev the floor and a pair of standards 33 which are arranged at one side of and which ex- 35 tend above the upper` surface of theboX-'like frame 35. The frame members 34 and the standards 38 may, as illustrated', comprise suitable lengths of angle iron, or the box-like frame 35' may be constructed of wooden frame members if desired.

clude a-liquid and gas header 56 and a sleeve :58,

the header` 56 being connected by suction and liquid lines indicated generally at 60 to the The refrigerating apparatus may be of any condensing unit and the sleeve 2.88 having a bracket 62 by means of which the evaporator assemblymay be supported by the standards 38. The` standards 38 may be connected adjacent their upper extremities b y a cross-piece B4 of some insulating material, such as wood, having a plate 86 secured thereto and to winch plate a bracket 88 is secured which may consist of a As illustrated in Figs. 2 to s, incmsive, the

provision compartment 24 may be formed by a cube-like shell indicated generally at 18 having an access opening adapted to be closed by a door 12. The shell 18 may be made of any desired moldable material which has properties suitable for this purpose. Such materials must be Imoisture repellant or non-hydroscopic, preferably heat-insulating and non-sweating, must have a high resistance to abrasion as well as a great impact strength so that they are not readily marred, chipped or dented, must be easy to clean, resistant to the absorption of odors,`re sistant to organic acids and alkalis, such as are generally found in foods, and should show an ability to take a finish upon its surface or to take colors (particularly white) as a part of its composition.

Materials answering the general requirements set forth above are found in a wide variety of plastics. As particular examples of general classes of plastics, which are not intended to be limiting, urea-formaldehyde compounds containing alpha cellulose illlers have been found tobe eminently suitable for the purpose, answering all of the requirements for this use. Vinyl chloride-acetate resins which employ a suitable fibrous ller, have also been found to answer the above requirements. These examples represent merely two materials which have been found to have the necessary qualications fpr this purpose but are not to be'taken as limiting the invention, since any one of a series of plastic mate rials would serve the purpose contemplated by the invention. i

A s illustrated in Figs.'1 to 9, the shell 18 is formed to provide the outer surface at the front, sides'and top of the cabinet, the walls of the the shell 18 is secured to the base unit 32. Afterl the frame 88 is inserted in the shell, a block of insulating material 82 may be pressed into the back of the refrigerator to complete the insulation and to bring the back of the provision compartment flush with the edges of the shell 18.

, This block 82 of insulation may comprise a package of insulation wrapped in some waterproof material, such as a waterproof paper, |and the edges of the block 82 fit 'tightly against the inside edges of the shell 18 so as to retard air` circulation. A sealing compound indicated at 8|, such as asphalt, may be used between the periphery of the block 82 and the opposite surface on the inside of the shell 18 as well as between the inside face of the block 82 and the rear face of the frame 88 and the rear surface of the back wall 'of the provision compartment 24. In this manner the block 82 of insulation is secured rmly in place and the insulating material 18 is sealed within the space withinthe shell 18 and between the outer walls thereof and the walls of the inner tank 24. The frames 16 and 88 may be constructed of wood.

, 'I'he block 82 of insulation is provided with a central opening which coincides with an opening provided in the rear wall of the tank 24 and through which the evaporator 28 is inserted into thel provision compartment 24. The standards 38 carry a wall section or portion adapted'to close said openings and which comprise a plate 84 and a block of insulating material 86 carried by and fitted around the bracket 68. The plate 84 may be provided with a rolled edge adapted to seal against a gasket 88 carried by the edge 98 of the opening in the rear wall of the provi- 'sion compartment 24; The block of insulation 86 is formed to t'over the plate 66, the crosspiece 64 and the bracket 68M and the plate 84 which may be formed of the same material as the walls of the shell 18 also is formed to ilt over the bracket 68. The;edges of the block 88 fit tightiy within the opning in the block of insulation 82 and if desired the adjacent surfaces of provision compartment 24, a bottom partition 14 and a skirt 18 around 'the 'box-like frame 88 and enclosing the apparatusfcompartment 26 at the sides and front thereof. The shell 18 may be molded around a rectangular frame 18 which defines the access opening to the provision compartment- 24. The walls of the shell 18 may, for example, be approximately one-fourth of an inch thickfgThe shell 18, it will be noted, provides a space betweenV the walls of the compari'.`

The frame 88 at lthe corners thereof may carry four rearwardly extending bolts 92 which Vextend through the block of insulation 82 and suitable apertures in the standards 88 where the threaded ends thereof are provided with nuts which assist ment 24 and the outerwalls of the refrigerator in the shell is open at in holding the shell 18 in assembled relationship with the base unit 82. i

The upper surface of the box-like frame is adapted to form a seat for the shell 18, the partition 14 thereof resting upon horizontal surfaces provided by a part of the box-like frame 85. To further assist in holding the shell 18 in assembled `relationship 'with the base unit 82. bolts 84 passing through suitable openings in the box-like frame 88 and the partition 14 may be threaded into threaded ,bushings 86 carried by the bottom portions of the frames 18 and 88 for clamping the frames 18 and 88 and the shell 18 to theban unit 32. vI'hese bolts 94 would have to be inserted after the shell has been seated upon the base around the frame 98 and the insulation |00 sov as to seal the insulation therein. An annular gasket |04 which may be carried by the door 12 is adapted to provide an air seal between the `door 12 and thefront surface of the shell 10l about -the door opening so as to prevent the circulation of air into and out of the provision compartment 24 when the door 12 is closed. The bottom -of the provision compartment may be provided with a glass, porcelain or metallic plate |06 cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom wall of the compartment 2d. The frame 98 of the door 12 and .the frame 16 of the shell may have mounted thereon in any suitable Way locking mechanism for holding the door in a closed position, and a handle for the door 12 and by which the locking mechanism may be released.

The plate 84 and block of insulation 06 may be provided with a slot |00 adjacent the bottom edge thereof and through which the liquid and suction lines 60 pass, and a block of live rubber i12 may be arranged to fit in the slot H0 and around the liquid and suction lines for sealing the same to the walls ofthe slot.

'Ihe skirt 16 is adapted to close lthe sides and iront of the apparatus compartment and to conceal all of the base unit except the legs 36 thereof.

In practice the shell 10 may be formed by molding the same out of any suitable material,l

such as one of the materials previously specified, and the outer surface thereof finished as previously indicated. The door 12 may then be assern` bled 'to the shell 10 and the insulation 10 and frame arranged within the shell as previously set forth. The refrigerating apparatus may be constructed,v assembled and tested and then assembled to the base lunit 32, together with the removable wall section 06 and 82. Thereafterv the-shell 10 may be assembled to the base unit i 22 simply lby' setting the partition 1t upon the upper surface of the box-like frame 35 in such a way that the removable wall section 2&1 and 2t will enter andclose the opening at the back of the provision compartment and also so that the bolts 92 will line up and enter the holes provided therefor in the standards 38. Thereafter the nuts may be applied to the bolts 92 and the bolts 92 may be threaded into the bushings 96 carried by the frame members 16 and 90.

In Fig. l10 there is" shown a modified form of the invention whereinthe provision compartment |21 is provided by molding a mass of insu-` lating'material around a cube-like frame |16 to form a shell |10. In this form of the invention the shell consists of insulating material |16 and previously set'forth in connection with the coating specied in connection with the construction illustrated in Fig. 2.

In this modification, the frame |16 may be notched, as illustrated, to provide a better bond between the insulation and the lframe. The door |12 may embody the same construction as that yutilized in making the shell |10. The construction of this modification may otherwise be the same as that illustrated in Fig. 2 and may be assembled to the base unit 32 in the same manner. As the vconstruction illustrated in Fig. 10 does not provide a covering for the apparatus compartment |26, a separate removable skirt |25 which forms' a continuation of the surfaces of the shell |10 may be provide'd for closing the front and sides of the apparatus compartment.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 11 is similar to that shown in Fig. 10 except that in the construction of Fig. 11 the corner posts 215 of the cube-like frame 216 extend the full height of the refrigerator cabinet and provide .a part of the supporting frame work 232 for the condensing unit 230 and `the provision compartment 228. The corner posts 215 may be connected adjacent their bottom by frame members for strengthening the assembly.

In this modification, the evaporator 220 isI supported by means of a pair of brackets 229 carried thereby and which are bolted or otherwise secured to brackets 22| carried by a part of the frame 216 and partially imbedded in the insulation connecting the members thereof. The walls of the shell 210 which forms the provision compartment 2261 may be formed in the same 4manner as the construction illustrated in Fig. 10.

In this modification the liquid and suction lines 260 pass through a slot 211 formed in one of ,the Vertical corner posts 215 and which slot at one end thereof communicates with theapparatus compartment 226 and at the other end with the provision compartment 222 at the upper corner thereof adjacent the door opening. The slot 211 may be packed with insulation and covered as by means of a plate 219 which may be nailed to the frame work 216 at the edges of the slot 211.

In this modification the sides and front of the apparatus compartment 22tare covered by a rel |12 in the modification@illustrated in Fig. 10.

a cube-like frame |16 which are molded together to form anintegral unit having thick walls. The inner and outer surfaces of this unit are coated with asuitable material to form a skin or coating |19 which is moisture proof, wear resistant and which provides a suitable external surface and an internal finish for the provision compartment. 'I'his coating should have the characteristics is suspended from one end of a horizontal arm 32s, me other' end of which is fixed to theI upper end of a vertical standard 33| pivotally mounted in a bracket 333 afiixed to a bottom horizontal frame member of the base unit 332. lIhe standard 33| extends through a slot 311 formed in the horizontal wall between the apparatus compartment 326 and the provision compartment 324. The slot 311 is formed in a part of the frame 316 of the cabinet and is covered by a-removable plate 319 held in place by means of screws 38|. A suitable packing may be arranged in the slot below the plate 319 and around the standard 33| for sealing the provision compartment 224 against circulation of air thereinto. The standard 33| may be grooved, as illustrated, to accommodate the liquid and suction lines indicated at 360. The walls of the slot 311 and the -cover plate 319 may be formed so as to provide an upper bearing for the standard 3|| so that the evaporator may be swung into and out of the provision compart- )ment 324. The liquid and suction lines 350 should be suiiiciently flexible and arranged so as to permit the turning ofthe standard 33| through an arc of at least 90 degrees Without injuring such lines. The front and sides of the apparatus compartment 326 would be closed by a removable skirt, such as the skirt 225 in Fig. 1l, and which skirt forms' a continuation vof the front and side walls of the provision compartment.' o o While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration onlyV and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement o1' parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

and integrally molded with said casing at said door opening, insulating material packed around said tank, a frame for supporting said cabinet and adapted to receive compressing machinery, a standardrising above said frame and adapted to support an evaporator forwardly thereof, an opening in the back of said tank for inserting an evaporator therethrough and insulating means carried by said standard.

2. A box-like frame one side of which denes a door opening, insulating material molded around said frame to form a cabinet and a compartment therein, a layer of pigmented finishing material covering said frame and molded insulation inside and out, means for supporting said cabinet, an evaporator for cooling said compartment, evaporator supporting means on said cabinet supporting means, an opening in the rear of said cabinet for -insertlng said evaporator into said Acompartment and compressing machinery carried on said 'cabinet supporting means.

'3. A refrigerating compartment with a door opening composed of a frame molded in insulating material for forming the walls thereof, a metal plate in the bottom of said compartment, a continuous pigmented nish molded around said compartment both inside and outside, a

door for closing said opening comprising a rec, tangular frame molded in insulating material and covered with a continuous pigmented finish, a hole in the back of said compartment andi means for supporting an evaporator in said compartment through said hole, saidv supporting means being associated with a frame for supporting compressing machinery and said refrigerating cabinet.

' HOWARD E. BLOOD.

EARL 'F. HUBACKER. 

